Rayo Vallecano

Rayo Vallecano

Full name	Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, SAD
Nickname(s)	Los Franjirrojos (The Red Sashes) Los Vallecanos (The Vallecans)
Founded	29 May 1924
Ground	Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, Madrid, Spain
Capacity	14,708
Chairman	Raúl Martín Presa
Manager	Rubén Baraja
League	Segunda División
2015–16	La Liga, 18th (relegated)
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D. (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈraʝo βaʎeˈkano ðe maˈðɾið]), often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas. Founded on 29 May 1924, the club currently plays in Segunda División, Spain's second tier division. Home games are held at the 14,708-seater Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas stadium.

Rayo has competed in one European competition, the UEFA Cup in the 2000–01 season. The club made it to the quarter-finals before losing to fellow countrymen Deportivo Alavés 4–2 on aggregate.

History

Rayo Vallecano saw the light of day on 29 May 1924 in the hometown of Prudencia Priego, wife of the club's first president Julián Huerta. Greatly inspired by River Plate (a Football club from Argentina), in 1949, after an agreement with Atlético Madrid, a red diagonal stripe was added to the team's kit, and the club reached Tercera División for the first time in its history.^[1]

One of the perennial yo-yo clubs of Spanish football, and always in the shadow of the two biggest clubs in the city (Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid), Rayo Vallecano spent many years during the 1980s and 1990s moving back and forth between La Liga and Segunda División. They appeared to have consolidated their top flight status after gaining promotion in 1999, and the team's most successful season came in 2000–01 when they reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup, going out only to eventual runners-up Deportivo Alavés;^[2] Rayo finished ninth in the previous campaign, but entered the competition via the fair play draw.^[3]

However, the club shortly thereafter fell on hard times, enduring successive relegations in 2003 and 2004. For 2005–06 manager Míchel, a Real Madrid legend in the 1980s and 90s, was hired.^[4]

Rayo finished the 2006–07 season in second place in Segunda División B, winning the promotion play-off semifinal but losing in the final to SD Eibar (1–2 aggregate).^[5] The following campaign, the team returned to division two after a four-year absence after a victorious run in the playoffs, disposing of Benidorm CF in the semifinal and Zamora CF in the last game 2–1 on aggregate.^[6]

In the first season back in the second tier of Spanish football, Rayo finished comfortably, often either in or just outside the promotion places. That same year, its women's team was crowned league champions for the first time, thereby qualifying for the UEFA Women's Champions League, but was eliminated 2–5 on aggregate in the round-of-32 by Russia's WFC Rossiyanka.

In 2010–11, Rayo Vallecano ranked in second position and returned to the top flight after an eight-year absence, only trailing champions Real Betis in spite of very serious economic problems.^[7][8][9] In late March 2012, in support of the 2011–12 Spanish protests, the squad decided to take one day off from training to join the demonstrations.^[10]

Deportivo de La Coruña vs. Rayo Vallecano.

In August 2015, Rayo Vallecano purchased the majority of Oklahoma City FC, a NASL expansion franchise which had yet to officially play a game renaming the club to Rayo OKC. It was the first ever entry of a Spanish club into the American sports market, and mirrored a 2013 sponsorship agreement with Qbao in terms of expanding the club's profile overseas.^[11]

In May 2016, Rayo Vallecano was relegated to the Segunda División, finishing 18th in the 2015–16 La Liga season. This ended their five-year streak in La Liga, their longest ever stay in the top-flight.

Club background

• Agrupación Deportiva El Rayo (29 May 1924 – 13 November 1947)
• Agrupación Deportiva Rayo Vallecano (13 November 1947 – 1995)
• Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (1995–present)

N.B. Affiliate of Club Atlético de Madrid in 1949–50

Season to season

Season Division Place Copa del Rey 1949/50 3ª 14th Did Not Play 1950/51 3ª 13th DNP 1951/52 3ª 9th DNP 1952/53 3ª 7th DNP 1953/54 3ª 17th DNP 1954/55 3ª 2nd DNP 1955/56 3ª 1st DNP 1956/57 2ª 12th DNP 1957/58 2ª 6th DNP 1958/59 2ª 14th First Round 1959/60 2ª 5th First Round 1960/61 2ª 16th First Round 1961/62 3ª 3rd DNP 1962/63 3ª 2nd DNP 1963/64 3ª 3rd DNP 1964/65 3ª 1st DNP 1965/66 2ª 9th First Round 1966/67 2ª 6th First Round 1967/68 2ª 4th Round of 32 1968/69 2ª 9th DNP 1969/70 2ª 6th Round of 32

Season Division Place Copa del Rey 1970/71 2ª 5th Round of 32 1971/72 2ª 8th Fourth Round 1972/73 2ª 11th Third Round 1973/74 2ª 14th Round of 16 1974/75 2ª 8th Fourth Round 1975/76 2ª 9th Second Round 1976/77 2ª 3rd Third Round 1977/78 1ª 10th Third Round 1978/79 1ª 15th Round of 16 1979/80 1ª 16th Quarterfinals 1980/81 2ª 5th Quarterfinals 1981/82 2ª 7th Semifinals 1982/83 2ª 9th Round of 16 1983/84 2ª 20th Third Round 1984/85 2ªB 1st Third Round 1985/86 2ª 15th Fourth Round 1986/87 2ª 5th First Round 1987/88 2ª 5th Round of 32 1988/89 2ª 2nd First Round 1989/90 1ª 20th Second Round

Season Division Place Copa del Rey 1990/91 2ª 11th Fifth Round 1991/92 2ª 2nd Fourth Round 1992/93 1ª 14th Fourth Round 1993/94 1ª 17th Fourth Round 1994/95 2ª 2nd Quarterfinals 1995/96 1ª 19th Third Round 1996/97 1ª 18th Quarterfinals 1997/98 2ª 8th Second Round 1998/99 2ª 5th First Round 1999/00 1ª 9th Quarterfinals 2000/01 1ª 14th Round of 16 2001/02 1ª 11th Quarterfinals 2002/03 1ª 20th Round of 64 2003/04 2ª 21st Round of 64 2004/05 2ªB 3rd Round of 64 2005/06 2ªB 5th Third Round 2006/07 2ªB 2nd Round of 16 2007/08 2ªB 1st Third Round 2008/09 2ª 5th Round of 32 2009/10 2ª 11th Round of 16

Season Division Place Copa del Rey 2010/11 2ª 2nd Third round 2011/12 1ª 15th Round of 32 2012/13 1ª 8th Round of 32 2013/14 1ª 12th Round of 16 2014/15 1ª 11th Round of 32 2015/16 1ª 18th Round of 16 2016/17 2ª Third round

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• 17 seasons in La Liga
• 35 seasons in Segunda División
• 5 seasons in Segunda División B
• 11 seasons in Tercera División (third level before 1977–78)

European history

Season	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
2000–01 UEFA Cup	Qualifying round	Constel·lació Esportiva	6–0	10–0	16–0
	First round	Molde	1–1	1–0	2–1
	Second round	Viborg	1–0	1–2	2–2 (a)
	Third round	Lokomotiv Moscow	2–0	0–0	2–0
	Fourth round	Bordeaux	4–1	2–1	6–2
	Quarter-finals	Alavés	2–1	0–3	2–4

Current squad

As of 19 August 2016^[12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Paulo Gazzaniga (on loan from Southampton) 2 DF Ernesto Galán 3 DF Nacho 4 DF Antonio Amaya 5 DF Chechu Dorado 6 MF Álex Moreno 7 FW Miku 8 MF Raúl Baena 9 FW Manucho 10 MF Roberto Trashorras (Captain) 11 MF Adri Embarba 12 DF Johan Mojica 13 GK Toño 14 DF Pablo Íñiguez (on loan from Villarreal) 15 DF Răzvan Raț

No. Position Player 16 MF Franco Cristaldo (on loan from Boca Juniors) 17 DF Quini 18 DF Zé Castro 19 MF Lass Bangoura 20 MF Patrick Ebert 22 MF Diego Aguirre 23 MF Piti 24 FW Javi Guerra 25 MF Bruno Zuculini (on loan from Manchester City) 26 MF Joni Montiel 27 MF Santi Comesaña 28 MF Pablo Clavería 29 MF Fran Beltrán 30 GK Luis García

Staff

• Head coach:
  • Rubén Baraja

Notable former players

Note: this list includes players that have played at least 100 league games and/or have reached international status.

Manucho Ildefons Lima Leonel Galeano Sebastián Saja Aras Özbiliz Toni Polster Elvir Baljić Elvir Bolić Guilherme Jorge Valdivia Fernando Vergara Hernán Medford Stjepan Andrijašević Søren Andersen Nicki Bille Laurie Cunningham

Iván Zarandona Lass Bangoura Idan Tal Javier Aquino Nery Castillo Guillermo Mendizábal Hugo Sánchez Andrija Delibašić Dave van den Bergh Wilfred Agbonavbare Jan Berg Christian Cueva Licá Paulo Torres Zé Castro Răzvan Raț

Viktor Onopko Mohamed Diamé Ivan Tomić Josip Višnjić Abel Resino Miguel Albiol Antonio Amaya Gregorio Benito Bolo Raúl Bravo Antonio Calderón Rubén Cano David Cobeño Coke Juan José Collantes Pedro Contreras

Ramón de Quintana Patxi Ferreira Javi Fuego Ricardo Gallego Antonio García Navajas Diego Costa Felines Antonio Guzmán Carlos Llorens Julen Lopetegui Luis Cembranos Míchel Michu José María Movilla Juan Muñiz Álvaro Negredo

Onésimo Sánchez Pepín Roberto Peragón Piti Raúl Tamudo Toni Jiménez José Luis Veloso Kasey Keller Sebastián Fernández Álvaro Gutiérrez Josemir Lujambio Fernando Morena Julio Álvarez Dani Hernández Daniel Noriega

Managers

Dates Name 1944–46 Cayetano Sardinero 1946–47 Julián Antón 1947–48 Luis Pérez 1948–49 Tomás Rodríguez Rubio 1949–50 Ramón de la Fuente 1950–51 Anselmo Nogales 1951–52 Félix Huete 1952–53 Lorenzo Sánchez Villar 1954–55 Cándido Machado 1953–54 Patricio Sánchez Calleja 1954–55 Manuel Alepuz 1955–56 Cándido Machado 1956–58 Ramón Colón 1958 Cándido Machado 1958–59 Lino Taioli 1959 Heriberto Herrera 1959–60 Ramón Colón 1960 Alfonso Aparicio 1960–61 Martín Camino 1961 Ramón Cobo 1961 Joseíto 1961–64 Herrero 1964–67 Pedro Eguiluz July 1967–June 69 José Antonio Olmedo

Dates Name July 1969–Feb 71 Manuel Peñalva Feb 1971–June 72 Enrique Orizaola July 1972–Jan 73 Manuel Vences Jan 1973–June 74 José Antonio Olmedo June 1974–June 75 Héctor Núñez June 1975–Feb 76 Alfredo Di Stéfano Feb 1976–June 76 José Antonio Olmedo July 1976–June 77 García Verdugo June 1977–June 78 Héctor Núñez July 1978–June 79 Eduardo González June 1979–Feb 80 Héctor Núñez Feb 1980–June 80 Rafael Iriondo June 1980–Dec 81 Eduardo González Dec 1981–June 82 Manuel Peñalva June 1982–June 83 Juanjo García July 1, 1983–Nov 83 Máximo Hernández Nov 1983–June 84 Antonio Ruiz 1984–85 Eduardo Caturla 1985–87 Héctor Núñez July 1987–Jan 90 Felines Jan 1990–June 90 Emilio Cruz July 1990–Feb 92 Eusebio Ríos Feb 1992–June 93 José Antonio Camacho July 1993–Nov 93 Felines

Dates Name Nov 1993–Feb 94 Fernando Zambrano Feb 1994–Nov 94 David Vidal Nov 1994–June 95 Paquito June 1995–Oct 95 Pedro Mari Zabalza Oct 1995–April 96 Marcos Alonso July 1996–Feb 97 Paquito Feb 1997–March 97 Fernando Zambrano March 1997–June 97 Máximo Hernández 1997–98 Josu Ortuondo July 1, 1998 – June 30, 2001 Juande Ramos July 1, 2001–Oct 1, 2001 Andoni Goikoetxea Oct 1, 2001–June 30, 2002 Gregorio Manzano July 1, 2002–Jan 20, 2003 Fernando Vázquez Feb 2003–April 3 Gustavo Benítez April 2003–June 3 Antonio Iriondo June 2003–Nov 03 Julen Lopetegui Nov 10, 2003–Feb 15, 2004 Jorge D'Alessandro Feb 2004–June 4 Txetxu Rojo June 2004–June 5 Carlos Orúe July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006 Míchel June 16, 2006–Feb 15, 2010 Pepe Mel Feb 15, 2010–June 30, 2010 Felipe Miñambres July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2012 José Ramón Sandoval July 1, 2012– Paco Jémez

Club presidents

Dates Name 1924–26 Julián Huerta 1926–27 José Montoya 1927–28 Galo Andrés 1929–30 José Antonio Sánchez 1930–31 Anastasio Sánchez 1931–36 Ángel Martínez

Dates Name 1939–43 Miguel Rodríguez Alzola 1943–46 Ezequiel Huerta 1946–48 José Rodríguez Rubio 1948–55 Miguel Rodríguez Alzola 1955–58 Jerónimo Martínez 1958–61 Tomás Esteras

Dates Name 1961–65 Iván Roiz 1965–73 Pedro Roiz 1973–78 Marcelino Gil 1978–80 Francisco Encinas 1980–81 Luis Quer 1981–89 Francisco Fontán

Dates Name 1989–91 Pedro García Jiménez 1991–94 José María Ruiz Mateos 1994–2011 Teresa Rivero 2011– Raúl Martín Presa

Stadium

Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas

Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas is a football stadium located on Calle Payaso Fofó 1, Vallecas. Opened on 10 May 1976, at first it was called "New Stadium Vallecas", but in January 2004, 13 years after the arrival of the Ruiz-Mateos family in 1991, it changed denominations, as the wife was also named by her husband, business man José María, the first woman president of an elite football team.

It has a capacity of 14,708 spectators in an all-seated format, and dimensions of 102x64m. Additionally, one of the goalends does not have a grandstand, just a big wall with information panels.

In June 2009, the club announced plans for the construction of a new stadium.

Hymn

Although most people recognise the supporting songs by ska band Ska-P, Rayo Vallecano has an official hymn played at the stadium in home matches.

Rayo Vallecano always plays

with bravery, courage and nobility.

In every game it gives its heart

and chest and aspire to be the best.

No one can take the triumph from its hand,

when Rayo Vallecano is out to score.

Rayo Vallecano makes a virtue out of its game.

Rayo Vallecano is strength and youth.

To see the clean triumph of your colours

your fans follow you, and don't care where to,

and unanimous trumpet their cheerful voices.

Rayo has the nerve of a champion.

No one can take the triumph from its hand,

when Rayo Vallecano is out to score.

Rayo Vallecano makes a virtue out of its game.

Rayo Vallecano is strength and youth.

Alabi! Alaba!

Rayo Vallecano!

Ra, ra, ra!

Miscellaneous info

• Rayo Vallecano was Laurie Cunningham's last club – he was killed in a car crash just outside Madrid in 1989, after a sole season. He also had represented neighbours Real Madrid for four years.
• Spanish anti-fascist band Ska-P are outspoken supporters of the club and have dedicated two songs to it, named Como un Rayo and Rayo Vallecano.
• In March 2014, Huawei agreed to sponsor Rayo Vallecano for two league matches against Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.^[13]
• In 2014, 85-year-old Vallecas resident Carmen Martínez Ayuso was evicted from her house after living there since the 1960s. Rayo Vallecano and particularly coach Paco Jémez were touched by her story, and subsequently offered to fund Martínez for the foreseeable future.^[14]

References

1. "Historia resumida del Rayo" [Brief history of Rayo] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
2. "Alaves through as Rayo fall". BBC Sport. 15 March 2001. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
3. "El 'Fair Play', ¿una puerta abierta para jugar en Europa?" ['Fair Play', open door to play in Europe?] (in Spanish). Terra. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
4. "Michel, nuevo entrenador del Rayo" [Michel, new Rayo manager] (in Spanish). ABC. 23 June 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
5. "El Eibar regresa a Segunda tras remontar ante el Rayo Vallecano" [Eibar returns to Segunda after coming back from behind against Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 24 June 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
6. "El Rayo vuelve a la División de Plata del fútbol español" [Rayo return to silver category of Spanish football] (in Spanish). Marca. 15 June 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
7. Dona Teresa takes off mask; Football Scouting, 1 March 2011
8. Unpaid Rayo have sights set on La Liga payday; Reuters, 30 March 2011
9. Los jugadores del Rayo Vallecano seguirán sin cobrar (Rayo Vallecano players will still not be paid); El Correo Gallego, 26 February 2011 (Spanish)
10. "Rayo Vallecano players strike over Spanish austerity cuts". When Saturday Comes. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
11. "El Rayo compra la mayoría de acciones del Oklahoma City" [Rayo purchases majority of Oklahoma City shares] (in Spanish). AS. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
12. "Primer equipo" [First team] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
13. "Huawei sponsors Rayo Vallecano for two matches, against Real Madrid and Bilbao". GSM Insider. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
14. Villalba, Juanjo (January 2015). "Spanish Football Team Rescues an Old Lady". Vice Magazine. 13 (1): 15.

External links

• Official website (Spanish)
• Official Radio website (Spanish)
• Official Community VK (Russian)
• Futbolme team profile (Spanish)
• BDFutbol team profile
• Rayo Herald – Updated club info (Spanish)